Coffee Starbucks Secret Menu Drinks Take Centre Stage with £18.5K Contest Through Hidden App Feature
Starbucks fans, it’s your moment. The iconic coffee chain is lifting the curtain on its once-clandestine creations with the launch of a new secret menu feature, officially live in the Starbucks app from 14 July 2025 in both the UK and the US.
But there’s more. A jaw-dropping $25,000 (around £18,500) is on the line for the most creative custom drink.
Yes, really. Create your dream drink, submit it through the app, and you could walk away with a cash prize that’s anything but small change.
Once whispered about among hardcore fans and TikTok creators, the Starbucks secret menu is now legit. For the first time ever, four viral fan-favourites have been officially added to the mobile app—tucked away under the ‘Offers’ tab.
They’re not just flashy inventions. Each drink is made entirely with ingredients already stocked in stores, keeping things easy for baristas and exciting for customers.
The featured drinks include:
- Cookies on Top – Cold brew with vanilla syrup, topped with vanilla sweet cream cold foam and cookie crumble
- Dragonfruit Glow-Up – Mango Dragonfruit Lemonade Refresher with peach juice blend and vanilla sweet cream cold foam
- Lemon, Tea & Pearls – Black tea lemonade with raspberry-flavoured popping pearls
- Just Add White Mocha – Brown Sugar Oatmilk Shaken Espresso combined with white chocolate mocha sauce and vanilla sweet cream cold foam
This marks a bold shift in Starbucks’ approach—leaning into the hype, rewarding creativity, and fully embracing the customisation culture that’s dominated social media.
Running from 14 to 20 July 2025, Starbucks is calling on customers and employees alike to submit their own drink recipes using the app. The twist? Only ingredients currently available in-store are allowed.
From there, four standout submissions will be chosen in early August. Each finalist scores $5,000 (roughly £3,700) and sees their creation featured in the app from 18 to 25 August. But the final decision lies with the people.
“Finalists’ drinks will go head-to-head in a public vote via Starbucks’ official Instagram,” says the announcement. “The creator of the most popular drink will walk away with a $25,000 grand prize.”
That’s a life-changing win for what could be a simple shot of syrup or a clever twist on a classic.
This isn’t just about fun drinks. It’s a savvy digital move. By inviting users to participate and offering exclusive access through its app, Starbucks is blending personalisation with tech.
It’s also a smart operational choice. Encouraging drinks made from existing ingredients means faster service, fewer mistakes, and less pressure behind the counter. Everybody wins.
Want in? Here’s what to do:
- Open the Starbucks app
- Head to the hidden ‘Offers’ section
- Create your drink using in-store ingredients
- Submit it before 20 July
Then, cross your fingers and start dreaming of what you’d do with £18,500.
This is your chance to turn caffeine into cash. Creativity counts. So does flavour. And if your creation becomes the next fan obsession? You might just see it on the app—and in cups across the country.
